Ohio Standards Connections:


Grade 5

Standard:

Citizenship Rights and Responsibilities

 

Benchmark:

 

Identify rights and responsibilities of citizenship in the US that are important for preserving democratic government.

 

Indicator Grade 5:

 

2.Explain the obligations of upholding the US Constitution including:

Obeying Laws

Paying Taxes

Serving on Juries

Registering for Selective Service

3. Explain the significance of the rights that are protected by the First Amendment

  1. Freedom of Religion
  2. Free Speech
  3. Free Press
  4. Right of petition and assembly.

 

Lesson Summary:

This lesson is an introduction to the Unit on Citizenship Rights and Responsibilities.  Students will complete the K-W of a K-W-L on the topic.  Prepare folders that will contain the necessary materials to complete the unit.


Estimated Duration:

1 hour.

 

 

Commentary:


Pre-Assessment:

As a class, students will complete a K-W-L over citizenship rights and responsibilities.  Working in small groups of 4, students will come up with information that they already know about the United States Constitution and the rights they have from the Bill of Rights.  Once what they know has been determined, in the same small groups, students will brainstorm questions that they would like to learn more about relating to the United States Constitution and their rights as citizens.

 

Scoring Guidelines:

 

No scoring in the pre-assessment.  The teacher and the Media Specialist will observe students and make sure they are on task

 

Post-Assessment:

Check folders to make sure materials are in order.



Instructional Procedures:

 

  1. Begin the lesson by reading an article that deals with a Right or Responsibility that we have as US citizens.  (Flag desecration or the Banning of Harry Potter).  Spark a discussion about how as citizens we are granted certain rights under the United States Constitution. 
  2. In small groups of 4, have students try and think of some of the rights or responsibilities that they have as US citizens.  After 5 minutes or so have students choose one of the statements that they wrote down onto a post it note.  Have each group share with the class the responsibility or right that they came up with and have them place their post it note on the chart paper at the front of the class (K of the KWL).
  3. Read “Rights as Citizens” section in the book “The Constitution and You.”  This will help to sum up the information they put on the chart.
  4. Next have students, in their same small group of 4, come up with questions that they would like to learn more about.  Again have them use the sticky notes to write down just one of the many that they brainstormed.  Have them share with the class their question and place the sticky note in the W section of the chart paper.
  5. Explain to students that with these questions, they are going to find answers using the resources found in the library.  Assign students to groups of two.  Together with their partner, have students decide which question or right or responsibility they would like to answer or learn more about.
  6. Have partners create construction paper folders to hold materials in.  Students will receive their research model that they will follow, their task list, and a description of the project that they will be completing.
  7. Describe to the students the project that they are responsible for creating by the end of the two week period.  Share with them an example of the finished product.


Differentiated Instructional Support

 

In this particular lesson, instruction is differentiated by having students brainstorm ideas in small groups this allows students who have trouble coming up with ideas on their own an opportunity to take time to listen and share.


Extension

Those students who may know more about the topic are able to share their ideas with the group.


Homework Options and Home Connections

 

This unit will be completed in school only.  Research and construction of the final product will take part in the classroom and school library.


Interdisciplinary Connections

 

Students will be writing opinions as well as explanations and summaries of the materials that they will need to complete the final project.  Great tie into language arts for fact and opinion. 


Materials and Resources:

For teachers

“Constitution and You” book. Article “Banning Harry Potter.” Chart paper and Post it Notes

For students

Construction Paper, Pencils and Markers


Key Vocabulary

Constitution, Rights, Responsibilities, Bibliography



 

 

Technology Connections

Next lesson.



General Tips

Students had a hard time in the K part of the KWL understanding that the “rights” we were talking about were in the Constitution.   We were getting responses like “Right to drive a car”


Attachments

See attached pages.